Australian Sports Digest

AFL Updates

• 🔥 Rule change trial axed: The AFL has axed its planned rule change trial for the Australia v Ireland AFLW match at North Sydney...

Melbourne Storm star Cameron Munster is in early negotiations with the PNG Chiefs for their 2028 debut season, despite being contracted until the end...

AFL great Garry Lyon says young Hawthorn forward Calsher Dear should leave the club "100 per cent" after Mitch Lewis signed a four-year deal and Jack...

Wayne Bennett has dismissed fears Latrell Mitchell may have played his last game of 2026, calling it a week-by-week issue as the star returns to...

The AFL has decided against trialling a rule tweak in the Australia v Ireland exhibition clash after backlash from players. This keeps standard rules in place for the landmark international fixture.

Collingwood great Steele Sidebottom is expected to retire after 2026, with Scott Pendlebury and Jeremy Howe also facing uncertain futures at the...

Veteran journalists Brent Read and Pete Badel traded blows on NRL360 over coverage of the struggling Broncos, with Read accusing Badel of acting as "a...

NRL Coaching and Player Developments

• 🔥 Seibold NRL Return: Former Manly coach Anthony Seibold is reportedly close to joining the PNG Chiefs as...

Bulldogs reportedly plan to drop Sean O'Sullivan from the halves when Stephen Crichton returns, shifting him back to a bench role.

• Club view:...

South Sydney's horror day escalated as David Fifita lost his judiciary appeal, doubling his ban to two weeks for a Grade 2 Dangerous Contact charge....

The Australia vs Ireland AFLW match on August 1 finally tests whether Ireland's stars can match the country that invented the game. Irish players like...

Anthony Seibold is on the verge of an NRL coaching return, reportedly joining the PNG Chiefs as senior assistant to head coach Willie Peters. It marks his first full-time role since departing Manly mid-2026 season.

Tasmania's choice of Ken Hinkley as inaugural coach is legitimate, not an overreaction. His recent experience, finals record, and man-management skills position him perfectly to build culture and standards for the 2028 expansion side.

NRL Infrastructure

• 🔥 Perth Bears Facility: The WACA Ground and Waterbank site in East Perth will serve as the initial home base for the Perth...

The 'everyone hates the Broncos' narrative gained fresh momentum as Cowboys captain Tom Dearden declared "I hate the Broncos" ahead of the Queensland...

• WACA Ground to house Bears administration, high-performance spaces and upgraded Lillee Marsh Stand
• Waterbank becomes dedicated training field with...

• Hinkley's core pitch: Sell the "journey" and early opportunity to lure stars quickly
• Powerful tools: Seven top-15 draft picks (four must be...

David Fifita copped a Grade 2 dangerous contact charge after kicking Hudson Young in the head during Souths' loss to Canberra. The incident was missed...

Collingwood continues its role as AFL wildcard gatekeeper, defeating Carlton 14.6(90) to 10.9(69) to extend a 14-2 record in their last 16 meetings....

Friday's double-header carries major finals implications as the Knights host the Roosters and Rabbitohs face the Storm.

• Panthers aim to halt a...